“Today, I joined the members of the State Legislature in listening to Governor Paterson’s address on the Executive Budget proposal. I commend the Governor for releasing the 2009-2010 budget early to jump-start the process during these tough economic times. Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget proposal includes egregious tax increases on middle-class families and small businesses that total almost $4 billion. Raising taxes during weak economic times is unacceptable. Families in my Assembly District and throughout the state are already facing the loss of jobs, limited employment opportunities and increases in their cost of living; the answer to this is not an increase in taxes, which only further hurts the economy.

New York State is facing a $15 billion budget deficit because of Albany’s addiction to spending and borrowing. Families have been forced to cut back in these hard times, and it is time that state government does the same. I believe that we should be taking a hard look at the effectiveness of all state programs and all mandates on local municipalities. We can and will overcome this fiscal crisis, but we must do so by cutting wasteful spending and unnecessary programs, investing in our economy and limiting the size, cost and reach of government.

I look forward to working on this process with my fellow Assembly members and the Governor, so that together we can be proud to call the Empire State home.”